Pigeonhole Dream: How Perspective Uncages Interpretations

This pigeonhole dream illustrates how a heavenly perspective can help to decipher a prophetic word or dream. I saw this dream a few years ago but was recently reminded of it (I had not thought about it for many years). I pray it will be a blessing to you, too!

Pigeonhole Dream

I approached a wall that had openings and pockets of different sizes. Someone in front of the wall was bent over and using a hammer. I heard the clanging sound of metal on metal. To my surprise, he was hammering the tail end of a bird, trying to fit it headfirst into a very tiny pocket in the wall. The person did not notice that the bird could not fit into that small space, but he kept hammering away.

I looked higher on the wall and saw a much larger space resembling a mini display. The bird would easily fit there, have enough room to walk around, and be visible to others who came near the wall (or lattice).

I said to the person using the hammer,” If the bird is still alive, you may want to put it up there (I pointed up) where there is more space for it.” I awakened hearing the word “pigeonhole.” (END)

Pigeonhole Symbol

The definition of Pigeonhole, according to Merriam-Webster.com, means: (1) a small open compartment (as in a desk or cabinet) for keeping letters or documents (noun) (2) to lay aside (for future consideration) (verb)

A bird in this context is a spiritual message or messenger. (Ecclesiastes 10:20, NKJV)

Pigeonhole Dream Interpretation

This dream was instructional about handling a prophetic message. See Jeremiah 23:29 states,

““Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (NKJV)

In other words, a message from God can ignite one heart (set it on fire). At the same time, it can demolish strongholds in another heart. However, a word from the Holy Spirit that is not correctly applied will not fit with what God is doing or building. 

Too often, like the man bent over in the dream, we lower and limit God’s words to our current perspective, not realizing we only see a tiny part of the message. Doing so, we pigeonhole the dream’s meaning. 

I initially shared the dream with a couple of friends who also received a lot of dreams and revelation. From the dream, we understood that if a word is from the Holy Spirit, we must discern the context (fit). Is the Word or message for a group? For an individual? Or is it a topic for intercession? The discussion was great. Later, I forgot about the dream. 

Recently, the Holy Spirit led me to revisit the dream. He revealed its meaning of looking at spiritual messages from a heavenly perspective. From a higher perspective, there is room for our understanding of the Word to grow. Moreover, we also gain a better viewpoint. Instead of seeing only “hind parts,” we see a broader message and application. Furthermore, this knowledge will benefit others (beyond myself and a couple of friends). 

Pigeonhole Dream Application

Armed with this new revelation about having a heavenly perspective of my dream, I began to see things I had previously overlooked when focused on the bird and the hammer. I initially missed the reference to the “lattice wall” in Song of Solomon 2:8-13; it relates to the Bride’s encounter with the Lord. This speaks of promptly responding to the Lord when He calls. The “back part” in this context may mean the hiddenness of God’s glory (Exodus 33: 22-23).

A workman’s noisy clanging is likely about our human efforts to grasp understanding. When Solomon’s temple was built, it was done without noise or clamor (1 Kings 6:7). I searched my journal to review other dreams received around the same period. 

To my amazement, I discovered that the same message of having a heavenly perspective applies not only to prophecy, dreams, and visions but also to strategies for spiritual warfare and our spiritual destinies!

God Speaks Repeatedly to Help Us to “See”

Something else rang true. We are all in the process of discovering what God has “already” done or spoken concerning our lives and destinies. His words may be seen as dreams or received by prophetic revelations. Nevertheless, God’s Words are as numerous as the sand on the shore,

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand (Ps 139:17-18a, NKJV)

It is very comforting to know that it is unlikely that we will miss our destiny when we do not comprehend or recall a spiritual dream. God speaks again and again.

Sometimes, understanding comes in two hours; sometimes, it tarries for five years. We should try not to “force” it to “fit” into what makes sense at the time or what a dictionary suggests is the dream meaning. We are not to hammer God’s Word but rather allow the Word to be the hammer it is. Our role is to keep seeking and watching and believing and loving.

The interpretation always seems to come at the right time and through the right channel. After all, the Holy Spirit is a master librarian and teacher. Sometimes, He “pigeonholes” information, and time passes, but doesn’t He faithfully connect us with precisely what we need to hear at the right time?  Amen!

1 Peter 4: 7-11 urges us to be serious and watchful in our prayers, to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us to minister, and “if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.”

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